Chronic Venous Disease refers to conditions related to or caused by veins in the legs that become diseased or abnormal. This can include the following common conditions: Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Painful Swollen Veins, Venous Ulcers, and Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
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Varicose veins appear twisted and bulging, they can be swollen and raised above the surface of the skin and do not control blood flow as they should. Varicose veins may also cause aching pain, throbbing, and discomfort. You should see a doctor about varicose veins if:
Spider veins are closer to the surface of skin than varicose veins and can look like tree branches or spider webs. Spider veins are rarely a serious health problem but can cause uncomfortable feelings in the legs.
Venous Ulcers are sores on the leg that are very slow to heal, usually due to poor blood circulation. They can lead to more serious problems if they are not treated.
Venous insufficiency occurs when there are faulty valves in the veins. In a healthy vein, there are one-way valves that allow the blood to move toward the heart, but not away. In a diseased vein, these valves fail to work properly, allowing blood to fall downward between heartbeats. The back and forth motion of blood leads to increased venous blood pressure causing inflammation in the tissues around the vein.